Final answer:
The nunnery and Governor's Palace at Uxmal likely indicate residential and political functions, respectively, in Mayan society. They served as centers for religious, political, and social ceremonies, reflecting the connection between architecture, authority, and the supernatural in Mayan urban design.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two compounds at Uxmal, specifically the nunnery and the Governor's Palace, probably indicated that there were distinct functions for each building within Mayan society. The nunnery, as the name suggests, might have been a residential complex for women or priests, while the Governor's Palace implies a political or administrative role, housing perhaps the elite or rulers of the city. These structures, like many in Mayan cities, would have been centers for different aspects of life including religion, politics, and social ceremonies.
In Mayan culture, the urban design often had a strong religious and ceremonial element, reflecting the authority of rulers and their connection to the supernatural. Similarly, the orientation of buildings along a north-south axis, such as those in Uxmal, was not just practical but also symbolic, enhancing the rulers' authority by aligning them with cosmic forces.